On-package transmit/receive switch and antenna

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems for an on-chip and/or on-package T/R switch and antenna are disclosed and may include selectively coupling one or more low noise amplifiers (LNAs) and/or one or more power amplifiers (PAs) to one or more ports of a multi-port distributed antenna utilizing configurable transmit/receive (T/R) switches integrated on a chip with the LNAs and PAs. The LNAs and PAs may be impedance matched to the antenna by coupling them to a port based on a characteristic impedance at the port. The T/R switches may be integrated on a package to which the chip may be coupled. The signals transmitted and received by the antenna may be time division duplexed. The antenna, which may include a microstrip antenna, may be integrated on the chip or the package. The LNA and the PA may be coupled to different ports on the antenna via the T/R switches.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/397,024 filed Mar. 3,2009 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,238,824.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application makes reference to: U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/367,892 filed on Feb. 9, 2009; U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/396,935 filed on Mar. 3, 2009; U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/396,964 filed on Mar. 3, 2009; U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/397,005 filed on Mar. 3, 2009; U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/397,040 filed on Mar. 3, 2009; U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/397,060 filed on Mar. 3, 2009; and U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/397,096 filed on Mar. 3, 2009.

Each of the above stated applications is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[Not Applicable]

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

[Not Applicable]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention relate to wireless communication.More specifically, certain embodiments of the invention relate to amethod and system for an on-chip and/or on-package transmit/receive(T/R) switch and antenna.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mobile communications have changed the way people communicate and mobilephones have been transformed from a luxury item to an essential part ofevery day life. The use of mobile phones is today dictated by socialsituations, rather than hampered by location or technology. While voiceconnections fulfill the basic need to communicate, and mobile voiceconnections continue to filter even further into the fabric of every daylife, the mobile Internet is the next step in the mobile communicationrevolution. The mobile Internet is poised to become a common source ofeveryday information, and easy, versatile mobile access to this datawill be taken for granted.

As the number of electronic devices enabled for wireline and/or mobilecommunications continues to increase, significant efforts exist withregard to making such devices more power efficient. For example, a largepercentage of communications devices are mobile wireless devices andthus often operate on battery power. Additionally, transmit and/orreceive circuitry within such mobile wireless devices often account fora significant portion of the power consumed within these devices.Moreover, in some conventional communication systems, transmittersand/or receivers are often power inefficient in comparison to otherblocks of the portable communication devices. Accordingly, thesetransmitters and/or receivers have a significant impact on battery lifefor these mobile wireless devices.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, throughcomparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth inthe remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system and/or method for an on-chip and/or on-package transmit/receiveswitch and antenna, substantially as shown in and/or described inconnection with at least one of the figures, as set forth morecompletely in the claims.

Various advantages, aspects and novel features of the present invention,as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be morefully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary wireless system, which may beutilized in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary multi-portdistributed antenna on a chip, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating a plan view of exemplarytransmit/receive switches and a multi-port distributed antenna on achip, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B is a block diagram illustrating a plan view of an exemplarytransmit/receive switch and a multi-port distributed antenna on a chipin TDD mode, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary steps for implementinga transmit/receive switch and a multipart distributed antenna, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain aspects of the invention may be found in a method and system foran on-chip and/or on-package transmit/receive (T/R) switch and antenna.Exemplary aspects of the invention may comprise configuring one or moreT/R switches, which may be integrated on a chip with a plurality of lownoise amplifiers (LNAs) and a plurality of power amplifiers (PAs), toselectively couple one or more of the plurality of LNAs and/or one ormore of the plurality of PAs to one or more of a plurality of ports of amulti-port distributed antenna. The selectively coupled plurality ofLNAs and PAs may be impedance matched to the multi-port distributedantenna by coupling the one or more of the plurality of LNAs and PAs tothe one or more of a plurality of ports based on a characteristicimpedance of the multi-port distributed antenna at the one of aplurality of ports. The T/R switch, which may comprise CMOS switches,may be integrated on a package, where the chip may be bonded to thepackage. The signals, which may comprise RF signals, transmitted andreceived by the multi-port distributed antenna may be time divisionduplexed. The multi-port distributed antenna may be integrated on a chipwith the LNAs and PAs, or integrated on a package to which the chip isbonded. The multi-port distributed antenna may comprise a microstripantenna. The one of the plurality of LNAs and the one of the pluralityof PAs may be coupled to different ports on the multi-port distributedantenna via the T/R switch.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary wireless system, which may beutilized in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG. 1, the wireless device 150 may comprise an antenna 151, atransceiver 152, a baseband processor 154, a processor 156, a systemmemory 158, a logic block 160, a chip 162, a distributed antenna 164,transmit/receive (T/R) switches 165, an external headset port 166, and apackage 167. The wireless device 150 may also comprise an analogmicrophone 168, integrated hands-free (IHF) stereo speakers 170, ahearing aid compatible (HAC) coil 174, a dual digital microphone 176, avibration transducer 178, a keypad and/or touchscreen 180, and a display182.

The transceiver 152 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,interface(s), and/or code that may be enabled to modulate and upconvertbaseband signals to RF signals for transmission by one or more antennas,which may be represented generically by the antenna 151. The transceiver152 may also be enabled to downconvert and demodulate received REsignals to baseband signals. The RF signals may be received by one ormore antennas, which may be represented generically by the antenna 151,or the distributed antenna 164. Different wireless systems may usedifferent antennas for transmission and reception. The transceiver 152may be enabled to execute other functions, for example, filtering thebaseband and/or RF signals, and/or amplifying the baseband and/or RFsignals. Although a single transceiver 152 is shown, the invention isnot so limited. Accordingly, the transceiver 152 may be implemented as aseparate transmitter and a separate receiver. In addition, there may bea plurality of transceivers, transmitters and/or receivers. In thisregard, the plurality of transceivers, transmitters and/or receivers mayenable the wireless device 150 to handle a plurality of wirelessprotocols and/or standards including cellular, WLAN and PAN. Wirelesstechnologies handled by the wireless device 150 may comprise GSM, CDMA,CDMA2000, WCDMA, GMS, GPRS, EDGE, WIMAX, WLAN, 3GPP, UMTS, BLUETOOTH,and ZIGBEE, for example.

The baseband processor 154 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,interface(s), and/or code that may be enabled to process basebandsignals for transmission via the transceiver 152 and/or the basebandsignals received from the transceiver 152. The processor 156 may be anysuitable processor or controller such as a CPU, DSP, ARM, or any type ofintegrated circuit processor. The processor 156 may comprise suitablelogic, circuitry, and/or code that may be enabled to control theoperations of the transceiver 152 and/or the baseband processor 154. Forexample, the processor 156 may be utilized to update and/or modifyprogrammable parameters and/or values in a plurality of components,devices, and/or processing elements in the transceiver 152 and/or thebaseband processor 154. At least a portion of the programmableparameters may be stored in the system memory 158.

Control and/or data information, which may comprise the programmableparameters, may be transferred from other portions of the wirelessdevice 150, not shown in FIG. 1, to the processor 156. Similarly, theprocessor 156 may be enabled to transfer control and/or datainformation, which may include the programmable parameters, to otherportions of the wireless device 150, not shown in FIG. 1, which may bepart of the wireless device 150.

The processor 156 may utilize the received control and/or datainformation, which may comprise the programmable parameters, todetermine an operating mode of the transceiver 152. For example, theprocessor 156 may be utilized to select a specific frequency for a localoscillator, a specific gain for a variable gain amplifier, configure thelocal oscillator and/or configure the variable gain amplifier foroperation in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.Moreover, the specific frequency selected and/or parameters needed tocalculate the specific frequency, and/or the specific gain value and/orthe parameters, which may be utilized to calculate the specific gain,may be stored in the system memory 158 via the processor 156, forexample. The information stored in system memory 158 may be transferredto the transceiver 152 from the system memory 158 via the processor 156.

The system memory 158 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,interface(s), and/or code that may be enabled to store a plurality ofcontrol and/or data information, including parameters needed tocalculate frequencies and/or gain, and/or the frequency value and/orgain value. The system memory 158 may store at least a portion of theprogrammable parameters that may be manipulated by the processor 156.

The logic block 160 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,interface(s), and/or code that may enable controlling of variousfunctionalities of the wireless device 150. For example, the logic block160 may comprise one or more state machines that may generate signals tocontrol the transceiver 152 and/or the baseband processor 154. The logicblock 160 may also comprise registers that may hold data forcontrolling, for example, the transceiver 152 and/or the basebandprocessor 154. The logic block 160 may also generate and/or store statusinformation that may be read by, for example, the processor 156.Amplifier gains and/or filtering characteristics, for example, may becontrolled by the logic block 160.

The BT radio/processor 163 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic,interface(s), and/or code that may enable transmission and reception ofBluetooth signals. The BT radio/processor 163 may enable processingand/or handling of BT baseband signals. In this regard, the BTradio/processor 163 may process or handle BT signals received and/or BTsignals transmitted via a wireless communication medium. The BTradio/processor 163 may also provide control and/or feedback informationto/from the baseband processor 154 and/or the processor 156, based oninformation from the processed BT signals. The BT radio/processor 163may communicate information and/or data from the processed BT signals tothe processor 156 and/or to the system memory 158. Moreover, the BTradio/processor 163 may receive information from the processor 156and/or the system memory 158, which may be processed and transmitted viathe wireless communication medium a Bluetooth headset, for example

The CODEC 172 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic, interface(s),and/or code that may process audio signals received from and/orcommunicated to input/output devices. The input devices may be within orcommunicatively coupled to the wireless device 150, and may comprise theanalog microphone 168, the stereo speakers 170, the hearing aidcompatible (HAC) coil 174, the dual digital microphone 176, and thevibration transducer 178, for example. The CODEC 172 may be operable toup-convert and/or down-convert signal frequencies to desired frequenciesfor processing and/or transmission via an output device. The CODEC 172may enable utilizing a plurality of digital audio inputs, such as 16 or18-bit inputs, for example. The CODEC 172 may also enable utilizing aplurality of data sampling rate inputs. For example, the CODEC 172 mayaccept digital audio signals at sampling rates such as 8 kHz, 11.025kHz, 12 kHz, 16 kHz, 22.05 kHz, 24 kHz, 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, and/or 48 kHz.The CODEC 172 may also support mixing of a plurality of audio sources.For example, the CODEC 172 may support audio sources such as generalaudio, polyphonic ringer, I²S FM audio, vibration driving signals, andvoice. In this regard, the general audio and polyphonic ringer sourcesmay support the plurality of sampling rates that the audio CODEC 172 isenabled to accept, while the voice source may support a portion of theplurality of sampling rates, such as 8 kHz and 16 kHz, for example.

The CODEC 172 may utilize a programmable infinite impulse response (IIR)filter and/or a programmable finite impulse response (FIR) filter for atleast a portion of the audio sources to compensate for passbandamplitude and phase fluctuation for different output devices. In thisregard, filter coefficients may be configured or programmed dynamicallybased on current operations. Moreover, the filter coefficients may beswitched in one-shot or may be switched sequentially, for example. TheCODEC 172 may also utilize a modulator, such as a Delta-Sigma (Δ-Σ)modulator, for example, to code digital output signals for analogprocessing.

The chip 162 may comprise an integrated circuit with multiple functionalblocks integrated within, such as the transceiver 152, the processor156, the baseband processor 154, the BT radio/processor 163, the T/Rswitches 165, the CODEC 172, and the distributed antenna 164. The numberof functional blocks integrated in the chip 162 is not limited to thenumber shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, any number of blocks may beintegrated on the chip 162 depending on chip space and wireless device150 requirements, for example.

The distributed antenna 164 may comprise a plurality of ports forcoupling signals in and/or out of the distributed antenna 164, and maybe integrated in and/or on the chip 162. The physical dimensions of thedistributed antenna 164 may be configured to optimize a frequency ofoperation and/or characteristic impedance at the plurality of ports. Inanother embodiment of the invention, the distributed antenna 164 may beintegrated on a package to which the chip 162 may be affixed. In thismanner, the dimensions of the distributed antenna 164 may not be limitedby the size of the chip 162.

The T/R switches 165 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic,interface(s), and/or code that may be operable to switch multiplecomponents in the transceiver 152 to ports on the distributed antenna164. The T/R switches 165 may comprise a plurality of switches that mayenable the coupling of multiple devices to a single port on thedistributed antenna 164. For example, an LNA and a PA in the transceiver152 may share a single port in the distributed antenna 164, and may beoperated in time division duplex (TDD) mode utilizing the T/R switches165, which may alternate between coupling the LNA and the PA to a porton the distributed antenna 164. The port may be selected based onimpedance matching between the port and the output impedance of the PAand input impedance of the LNA, for example. The T/R switches 165 maycomprise a plurality of CMOS switches, for example, that may be enabledby the processor 156 or other control circuitry in the wireless device150.

The external headset port 166 may comprise a physical connection for anexternal headset to be communicatively coupled to the wireless device150. The analog microphone 168 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic,interface(s), and/or code that may detect sound waves and convert themto electrical signals via a piezoelectric effect, for example. Theelectrical signals generated by the analog microphone 168 may compriseanalog signals that may require analog to digital conversion beforeprocessing.

The package 167 may comprise a printed circuit board or other supportstructure for the chip 162 and other components of the wireless device150. In this regard, the chip 162 may be bonded to the package 167. Thepackage 167 may comprise insulating and conductive material, forexample, and may provide isolation between electrical components mountedon the package 167.

The stereo speakers 170 may comprise a pair of speakers that may beoperable to generate audio signals from electrical signals received fromthe CODEC 172. The HAC coil 174 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic,and/or code that may enable communication between the wireless device150 and a T-coil in a hearing aid, for example. In this manner,electrical audio signals may be communicated to a user that utilizes ahearing aid, without the need for generating sound signals via aspeaker, such as the stereo speakers 170, and converting the generatedsound signals back to electrical signals in a hearing aid, andsubsequently back into amplified sound signals in the user's ear, forexample.

The dual digital microphone 176 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic,interface(s), and/or code that may be operable to detect sound waves andconvert them to electrical signals. The electrical signals generated bythe dual digital microphone 176 may comprise digital signals, and thusmay not require analog to digital conversion prior to digital processingin the CODEC 172. The dual digital microphone 176 may enable beamformingcapabilities, for example.

The vibration transducer 178 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic,interface(s), and/or code that may enable notification of an incomingcall, alerts and/or message to the wireless device 150 without the useof sound. The vibration transducer may generate vibrations that may bein synch with, for example, audio signals such as speech or music.

In operation, control and/or data information, which may comprise theprogrammable parameters, may be transferred from other portions of thewireless device 150, not shown in FIG. 1, to the processor 156.Similarly, the processor 156 may be enabled to transfer control and/ordata information, which may include the programmable parameters, toother portions of the wireless device 150, not shown in FIG. 1, whichmay be part of the wireless device 150.

The processor 156 may utilize the received control and/or datainformation, which may comprise the programmable parameters, todetermine an operating mode of the transceiver 152. For example, theprocessor 156 may be utilized to select a specific frequency for a localoscillator, a specific gain for a variable gain amplifier, configure thelocal oscillator and/or configure the variable gain amplifier foroperation in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.Moreover, the specific frequency selected and/or parameters needed tocalculate the specific frequency, and/or the specific gain value and/orthe parameters, which may be utilized to calculate the specific gain,may be stored in the system memory 158 via the processor 156, forexample. The information stored in system memory 158 may be transferredto the transceiver 152 from the system memory 158 via the processor 156.

The CODEC 172 in the wireless device 150 may communicate with theprocessor 156 in order to transfer audio data and control signals.Control registers for the CODEC 172 may reside within the processor 156.The processor 156 may exchange audio signals and control information viathe system memory 158. The CODEC 172 may up-convert and/or down-convertthe frequencies of multiple audio sources for processing at a desiredsampling rate.

The wireless signals may be transmitted and received by the distributedantenna 164 which may comprise a plurality of input/output ports. Thecharacteristic impedance seen by a device coupled to a particular portmay be configured by the physical dimensions and by which of theplurality of ports the device may be coupled to, for example. In variousembodiments of the invention, power amplifiers and/or low noiseamplifiers with similar impedances may be coupled to the same port onthe distributed antenna 164. This may be accomplished with the T/Rswitches 165, which may couple an LNA and a PA to the same port on thedistributed antenna 164, but at alternate times, thus operating in TDDmode. Sharing ports on the distributed antenna 164 for both transmissionand reception of signals may reduce space requirements on the chip 162.In another embodiment of the invention, the distributed antenna may beintegrated on the package 167, reducing space requirements of the chip162 and improving space utilization in the wireless device 150.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary multi-portdistributed antenna on a chip, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown the chip 162, adistributed antenna 201, IC circuitry 203, and antenna ports 205A-205H.The chip 162 may be as described with respect to FIG. 1. The ICcircuitry 203 may comprise devices integrated in the chip 162, such asthe transceiver 152, the processor 156, the T/R switches 165, and thebaseband processor 154, for example.

The distributed antenna 201, which may be substantially similar to thedistributed antenna 164 described with respect to FIG. 1, may comprisean antenna integrated in and/or on the chip 162 that may comprise aplurality of ports, the antenna ports 205A-205H, such that driver andreceiver circuitry may be coupled to appropriate points along thedistributed antenna 201. For example, LNAs may be coupled to ports thatexhibit high characteristic impedance, and PAs may be coupled to portsthat exhibit low characteristic impedance. The distributed antenna 201may comprise a microstrip or coplanar waveguide, for example.

The antenna ports 205A-205H may comprise electrical contacts along thelength of the distributed antenna 201 that may enable coupling to theantenna at a plurality of points. In this manner, devices may be coupledto the distributed antenna 201 where the characteristic impedance may bematched to the desirable impedance for the device to be coupled. Theantenna ports 205A-205H may comprise metal strips, for example, that maybe electrically coupled to the distributed antenna 201. In an embodimentof the invention, the antenna ports 205A-205H may be coupled to T/Rswitches such as the T/R switches 165, described with respect to FIG. 1.

In operation, a plurality of PAs and LNAs may be coupled to the antennaports 205A-205H via a T/R switch comprising an array of switches toallow multiple devices to be coupled to a single antenna port 205A-205H.The impedance of the devices to be coupled may be matched to thecharacteristic impedance of the port to be coupled to such that theefficiency of the transmission of signals is maximized. This may, forexample, increase the efficiency and thus the battery life of thewireless device 150.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating a plan view of exemplarytransmit/receive switches and a multi-port distributed antenna on achip, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG. 3A, there is shown the chip 162, the distributed antenna 201, theantenna ports 205A-205H, baseband/RF circuitry 301, amplifiers303A-303H, and T/R switches 310.

The baseband/RF circuitry 301 may comprise suitable, circuitry, logic,interface(s), and/or code that may be operable to process baseband andRF signals. The baseband/RF circuitry 301 may comprise the transceiver152, the baseband processor 154, the processor 156, the CODEC 172, andthe BT radio/processor 163, for example, described with respect toFIG. 1. Accordingly, the baseband/RF circuitry 301 may generate signalsto be communicated to one or more of the amplifiers 303A-303H, and mayreceive signals generated by one or more of the amplifiers 303A-303H.

The amplifiers 303A-303H may comprise suitable, circuitry, logic,interface(s), and/or code that may be operable to amplify receivedsignals, and may comprise power amplifiers (PAs) and/or low noiseamplifiers (LNAs) that may be operable to communicate signals to andfrom the wireless medium via the distributed antenna 201.

The T/R switches 310 may be substantially similar to the T/R switches165 and may be operable to switch one or more of the amplifiers303A-303H to one of the antenna ports 205A-205H, or vice versa.Accordingly, the amplifiers 303A-303H may be switched to one or more ofthe antenna ports 205A-205H.

The current versus distance plot 305 may represent the magnitude ofcurrent across the length of the distributed antenna 201. Similarly, thevoltage versus distance plot 307 may represent the magnitude of voltageacross the length of the distributed antenna 201. The current andvoltage at a given point on a distributed antenna may be dependant onthe frequency of signals to be transmitted and/or received, theconductivity of the metal and the dielectric constant between theantenna and a ground plane, and by the physical dimensions of theantenna. Accordingly, by providing a plurality of antenna ports205A-205H along the length of the distributed antenna 201, a pluralityof characteristic impedances may be available for matching to theamplifiers 303A-303H.

The number of antenna ports 205A-105H is not limited to the number shownin FIGS. 2 and 3A. Accordingly, any number of ports and amplifiers maybe utilized depending on the desired number of characteristic impedancesand range of amplifier gain or power.

In operation, RF signals may be generated by the baseband/RF circuitry301. For a PA that may transmit maximum power with a low impedanceantenna, the antenna port 205D may be utilized, where a high current/lowvoltage point along the distributed antenna 201 may be located.Similarly, the distributed antenna may be configured to receive RFsignals and may communicate the received signals to an LNA, theamplifier 303A, for example, which may generate a maximum signal from ahigh impedance antenna, via the antenna port 205A, which may represent ahigh impedance port as indicated by the high voltage and low current forthe current versus distance plot 305 and the voltage versus distanceplot 307. However, when the received signals and the signals to betransmitted require an LNA and a PA, respectively, that exhibit similarimpedances, a single antenna port of the antenna ports 205A-205H may beutilized by both the LNA and the PA.

A plurality of antenna ports along the distributed antenna 201 mayenable impedance matching of the amplifiers 303A-303H to respectiveportions of the distributed antenna 201, such that high impedancedevices/circuits may be coupled to high impedance ports of the antennaports 205A-205H, and low impedance devices/circuits may be coupled tolow impedance ports of the antenna ports 205A-205H. In this manner,impedance matching may be enabled without adding extra impedancematching circuitry, which may utilize excessive space or components. Thebaseband/RF circuitry 301 may be enabled to operate in time divisionduplex (TDD) mode so that the distributed antenna 201 may be utilizedfor both transmission and reception of RF signals utilizing the T/Rswitches 310.

In an embodiment of the invention, the gain and/or output power of theamplifiers 303A-303H may be dynamically configured to adjust to changingconditions such as received signal strength or channel conditions, forexample. In addition, the T/R switches 310 may decouple one of theamplifiers 303A-303H and couple another one to increase/decrease gainand/or output power as needed.

FIG. 3B is a block diagram illustrating a plan view of an exemplarytransmit/receive switch and a multi-port distributed antenna on a chipin TDD mode, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.Referring to FIG. 3B, there is shown the chip 162, the distributedantenna 201, the antenna ports 205A-205H, baseband/RF circuitry 301, anLNA 309, a PA 311, and the T/R switches 310. The chip 162, thedistributed antenna 201, the antenna ports 205A-205H, the baseband/RFcircuitry 301, and the T/R switches 310 may be as described with respectto FIGS. 1, 2, and 3A.

The LNA 309 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic, interface(s), and/orcode that may be operable to amplify signals received by the distributedantenna 201 and communicated via the T/R switches 310 to the LNA 309.The PA 311 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic, interface(s), and/orcode that may be operable to amplify signals generated by thebaseband/RF circuitry 301. The T/R switches 310 may be operable tosequentially couple the LNA 309 and the PA 311 to one of the antennaports, such as 205F or 205G, for example, during a time slot. In thismanner, RF signals may be transmitted and received in TDD mode.

The specific ports that the T/R switches 310 may couple to PAs and/orLNAs is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3B.Accordingly, the T/R switches 310 may be configured to couple multipleantenna ports 205A-205H to a PA or LNA, and vice versa.

In operation, the baseband/RF circuitry 301 may generate signals to betransmitted by the distributed antenna 201. The generated signals may beamplified by the PA 311 and communicated to the distributed antenna 201via the T/R switches 310 that may be configured to couple the PA 311 tothe appropriate antenna port, such as antenna port 205G, for example.

The T/R switches 310 may then switch the antenna port 205G to the LNA309. An RF signal received by the distributed antenna 201 may then becommunicated to the baseband/RF circuitry 301 via the T/R switches 310.In this manner, TDD mode communication may be enabled. Accordingly, thetransmission of RF signals may occur for a defined amount of time,followed by the reception of RF signals for another defined amount oftime via the same antenna port, where the amounts of time devoted totransmission versus reception may depend on the desired uplink versusdownlink speed.

The gain of the LNA 309 and/or the output power of the PA 311 may bedynamically adjusted during operation depending on received signalstrength or channel conditions, for example. In addition the TDDparameters may be adjusted to enable increased uplink or downlinkspeeds, for example.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary steps for implementinga transmit/receive switch and a multiport distributed antenna, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 4, instep 403 after start step 401, the T/R switches 310 may be configured tocouple the LNA 309 to an appropriate antenna port, such as the antennaport 205G. The appropriate port may be defined by the impedance of theport compared to the input impedance of the LNA to obtain impedancematching. In step 405, RF signals may be received by the distributedantenna, amplified by the LNA 309, and processed by the baseband/RFcircuitry 301, followed by step 407, where the T/R switches 310 maycouple the PA 311 to the antenna port 205G. RF signals to be transmittedmay be generated by the baseband/RF circuitry 301, amplified by the PA311, and communicated to the distributed antenna 201 via the T/Rswitches 310 and the antenna port 205G. If, in step 409, the wirelessdevice 150 is to be powered down, the exemplary steps may proceed to endstep 411, but if the wireless device 150 is not to be powered down, theexemplary steps may proceed back to step 403 to continue the TDDcommunication.

In an embodiment of the invention, a method and system are disclosed forselectively coupling one or more of a plurality of low noise amplifiers(LNAs) 303A-303H/309 and one or more of a plurality of power amplifiers(PAs) 303A-303H/311 to one or more of a plurality of ports of amulti-port distributed antenna 164/201 utilizing a configurabletransmit/receive (T/R) switch 310 integrated on a chip 162 with theplurality of LNAs and PAs 303A-303H/309/311. The one or more of aplurality of LNAs and PAs 303A-303H/309/311 may be impedance matched tothe multi-port distributed antenna 164/201 by coupling the one or moreof a plurality of LNAs and PAs 303A-303H/309/311 to the one or more of aplurality of ports 205A-205H based on a characteristic impedance of themulti-port distributed antenna 164/201 at the one or more of a pluralityof ports 205A-205H. The T/R switch 310, which may comprise CMOSswitches, may be integrated on a package 167 to which the chip 162 maybe bonded. The signals, which may comprise RF signals, transmitted andreceived by the multi-port distributed antenna 164/201 may be timedivision duplexed. The multi-port distributed antenna 164/201 may beintegrated on a chip 162 with the LNAs and PAs 303A-303H/309/311, orintegrated on a package 167 to which the chip 162 may be bonded. Themulti-port distributed antenna 201 may comprise a microstrip antenna.The one or more of the plurality of LNAs 303A-303H/309 and the one ormore of the plurality of PAs 303A-303H/311 may be coupled to differentports on the multi-port distributed antenna 201 via the T/R switch 310.

Another embodiment of the invention may provide a machine and/orcomputer readable storage and/or medium, having stored thereon, amachine code and/or a computer program having at least one code sectionexecutable by a machine and/or a computer, thereby causing the machineand/or computer to perform the steps as described herein for an on-chipand/or on-package transmit/receive switch and antenna.

Accordingly, aspects of the invention may be realized in hardware,software, firmware or a combination thereof. The invention may berealized in a centralized fashion in at least one computer system or ina distributed fashion where different elements are spread across severalinterconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system or otherapparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein issuited. A typical combination of hardware, software and firmware may bea general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, whenbeing loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that itcarries out the methods described herein.

One embodiment of the present invention may be implemented as a boardlevel product, as a single chip, application specific integrated circuit(ASIC), or with varying levels integrated on a single chip with otherportions of the system as separate components. The degree of integrationof the system will primarily be determined by speed and costconsiderations. Because of the sophisticated nature of modernprocessors, it is possible to utilize a commercially availableprocessor, which may be implemented external to an ASIC implementationof the present system. Alternatively, if the processor is available asan ASIC core or logic block, then the commercially available processormay be implemented as part of an ASIC device with various functionsimplemented as firmware.

The present invention may also be embedded in a computer programproduct, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation ofthe methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer systemis able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the presentcontext may mean, for example, any expression, in any language, code ornotation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having aninformation processing capability to perform a particular functioneither directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversionto another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a differentmaterial form. However, other meanings of computer program within theunderstanding of those skilled in the art are also contemplated by thepresent invention.

While the invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited tothe particular embodiments disclosed, but that the present inventionwill include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for communication in a wireless device,the method comprising: configuring one or more transmit/receive (T/R)switches in a package to selectively couple one or more of a pluralityof low noise amplifiers (LNAs) and/or one or more of a plurality ofpower amplifiers (PAs) to one or more of a plurality of ports of amulti-port distributed antenna that are within or on said package. 2.The method of claim 1 comprising coupling said one or more of saidplurality of LNAs to said one or more of said plurality of ports basedon a characteristic impedance of said multi-port distributed antenna atsaid one or more of said plurality of ports.
 3. The method of claim 1comprising coupling said one or more of said plurality of PAs to saidone or more of said plurality of ports based on a characteristicimpedance of said multi-port distributed antenna at said one or more ofsaid plurality of ports.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said T/Rswitches comprise CMOS switches.
 5. The method of claim 1 comprisingtime division duplexing signals transmitted and received by saidmulti-port distributed antenna.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein saidmulti-port distributed antenna comprises a microstrip antenna.
 7. Themethod of claim 1 comprising coupling said one or more of said pluralityof LNAs and said one or more of said plurality of PAs to different portson said multi-port distributed antenna by said T/R switches.
 8. A systemfor enabling communication in a wireless device, the system comprising:one or more transmit/receive (T/R) switches in a package; one or morecircuits operable to selectively couple one or more of a plurality oflow noise amplifiers (LNAs) and/or one or more of a plurality of poweramplifiers (PAs) to one or more of a plurality of ports of a multi-portdistributed antenna that are within or on said package.
 9. The system ofclaim 8, wherein said one or more of said plurality of LNAs are coupledto said one or more of said plurality of ports based on a characteristicimpedance of said multi-port distributed antenna at said one or more ofsaid plurality of ports.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein said one ormore of said plurality of PAs are coupled to said one or more of saidplurality of ports based on a characteristic impedance of saidmulti-port distributed antenna at said one or more of said plurality ofports.
 11. The system of claim 8, wherein said T/R switches compriseCMOS switches.
 12. The system of claim 8, wherein time divisionduplexing signals transmitted and received by said multi-portdistributed antenna.
 13. The system of claim 8, wherein said multi-portdistributed antenna comprises a microstrip antenna.
 14. The system ofclaim 8, wherein said one or more of said plurality of LNAs and said oneor more of said plurality of PAs are coupled to different ports on saidmulti-port distributed antenna by said T/R switches.